Switch



J. S. JONES.

SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1919.

a 2 0w m 2 1 J. J 1T 1 m r v] an 1 NW If. m m m n S W F 0 3 P ATTORNEYSINVENTOR a :75 s e //1 STQflSbarZ c7077 66' ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 7,1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

' f foam-:1 s'rA rss' movements may be provided in eitherdirecoperation.

PATENT omcr;

JOSEPH STAINSBURY JONES, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

Application. filed my 23,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH seme JoNE's, acitizen of the United States, resid ing at- Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in switches, and moreparticularly to the type;

known as snap. switches. i

The present invention pertains especially to snap switches of thedouble-throw type, viz switches in which the make and break tion ofangular-movement, the. movement of the operating element fromcircuit-opening to circuit-closing positionor vice versa-' being ineither angular direction, the movement setting the internal structuretocause the latter to follow the direction of element operation as inordinary 'snap switch- The present invention employs a; number of thefeatures of the disclosure of my prior Patent No. 1,217,114, February20, 1917, said patented structure, howe'ver,.being of the singlethrow-type,'in-.that the operating ele- .ment is limited to but onedirection of an- While present Jstructure gular movement. is similar. tothat :of the patent in the inclus ion" of a spring intermediate theoperating element and the contactrcarrying .rotor,' and, the-use of acontrol mechanism which, permits the rotorto advance underfispring.

tension, the difference in problemspresented in changingfromsingle-throw tod'ouble throw st1fuctures prevent use of the entirestructure of the earlier patent. The principal changes are provided-inconnection with the spring and the control mechanism; thus permittingthe use of the general :form of structure and the advantages providedswrrcn.

1919.; Serial No. 299,288. g

' Specification of Letters'Pate'nt. Pate t d pla 7 1922.

described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and moreparticularly pointed out 111 the appended claims.

the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference charactersindicate similar partsln each of the views.

F1gure 1 'is a central vertical sectional view.

Figure 2 is a top plan View.

of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective sectional view showing the tension-applyingstructure- F1gur'e 5 is a bottom plan view, of the rotor. l

F igure'G is .a sectional view taken'on line 66 of Figure 1, the partsbeing shown in a normal position.

Figure 7 is a similari view with parts shifted-to permit rotor movement,the view showing in dotted lines, of the rotor.

Figure 8 is .a perspective view of the rotor,

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the shiftable control element. In thedrawings, 15 indicates the casing an advance position having removablecover 15, thecasing hav-- ing the usual-leading-in openings. 16 indi--rates the base of insulating material, the

base having a; suitable contour and having a central opening 16 toreceive a non-rotatable'bearing or bushing 17 through which the lowerend of shaft or spindle 18 passes,

the latter being removably held against ma- .ter al longitudinal'movement in suitable manner." The upper end of spindle 18 issupported-bycover15 in suitable manner, the drawings indicating theusejof a suitable packing'glandformation 19.

Base 16 carries binding posts 20 carrying clips 20 between whichthecontacts of the rotor pass as in the patentedstr'uctu're,

the posts being arranged-to carry the clips at the proper distancesfromthebase'to accommodate for the positions of the contact blades. Asshown, the rotor carries two blade members, each of which is operativeto connect the clips of two terminal binding posts, so that the switchis adapted to control two circuits if-desired, the clips ofdiametrically opposite'posts 20 being located in the same plane whichdifi'ersfrom the plane ofthe clips of theother 'set of posts,

the planes intersecting the axis of the rotor- Figure 3 is a sectiontaken on line3-3 Obviously, the switch 'may be operated with but asingle circuit, by omitting circuit connections to one pair of terminalposts. I

The rotating element or rotor 21 is of the general type referred to inthe prior patent,

in that its body is of insulating material 'molded about the bladecontacts 22 each of which is in the form of a ring portion 22 carryingdiametrically opposite fan-tail contact members 22", the latterprojecting outwardly from the insulating body. The body tively to eachother rotatively, spindle 18 being given its movement by suitable means,

as for instance, a handle 24or a remov-.

able key element may be. employed. Rotor movements, however, areprovided by the action of a spring placed under tension by the spindlemovements, the tension becoming efiective to restore the normal relationa plate 27 embedded in the rotor body and projecting from one end of therotor. The

between the spindle and rotor through the action of certain controlmechanism, the latter being operative in producing the tension power,then made temporarily inactive to permit tension activity, andrestoredby the follow-up movements of the rotor.

The tension .means employed is in the form of a coil spring 25 which hasits coil surrounding the spindle at a point beyond the plane of therotor body-shown as above in Fig. 1-the ends of the coil extendingoutwardly in more or less parallelism.

Spindle 18 carries an arm 26 and the rotor body carries a finger 27 bothof which pass betweenthe two ends of spring 25 (see Fig. 4:) the arm andfinger being spaced from each other on a radial line extending from thespindle axis.

Arm 26 is'pinned or otherwise secured to the spindle .and rotatestherewith, whilefinger 27 is formed as a projection carried by ends ofthe spring are shown as extending on difierent planes of intersection ofthe spring axis, and as both arm26 and finger 27 are designed to operatewith either end of the spring, as presently pointed out, these elementshave a suificient length to permit this action to take place.

The control mechanism embodiesan ele-' ment held against movement,anelement movable with the rotor and an element mov-' able with thespindle, these elements having 'configurationsand operating cycles suchas to normally maintain the rotor in its set position, maintaining thisposition during initial spindle movement to place spring 25 undertension, and then releasing the rotor restraint in the presence of thistension to permit the rotor to advance under the tenby bushing 17 andshown as having a plu-, rality of notches or recesses 28 spacedequidistant on the periphery of the plate. These notches or recessescorrespond in number to the number of positions of the switch shown asfour in the present embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1 this plate 28 islocated on bushing 17 above base 16the latter being shown as recessed inthe present embodiment. Element 28 is provided with a central opening 28having a contour sub-.

stantially complemental to that of bushing -17a non-circular contourthusmaintaining the positions of notches 28 The rotor-carried element isindicated at 29, being in the form of a plate carried by and axiallyaligned with the rotor, bushing 23 preferably extending through anopening formed in the plate. The plate. is held fixedly relative to therotor by any suitable means, as by being embedded therein, or havin lugsembedded within'the material, or-bo The exposedface of plat'e29 isprovided with a plurality of projections or lugs which form guides for asecond member 30 of this element, said latter element being movable withthe rotor but also having an additional reciprocating movement in"directions transverse to the rotor axis.

Said member 30 is shown in detail in F ig.

9, in which 30* indicates a fingerprojecting laterally of the planeof-the member and .adapted to co-operate with notches 28 a U'-shapedportion 30 'through -which the spindleextends, a laterally-extendingportion 30 having an opening communicating with the interior of portion30 and a resilient member 30 which may be in the form of a leafspring-located in portion 30, the spring and finger being located onopposite sides of the member axis the latter extending throughthe'opening of portion 30'. Lugs 29 are relatively positioned to preventrelative rotative movement of member 30 and the rotor and yet permitslidable movements of the member to engage and disengage finger 30 and anotch 28.

Element 30 is located in the plane of'arecessed portion or portions 18of spindle 18,

31 which normally contacts with spring 3Q as in Fig. 9but which ismovable into contact with walls of the opening of portion 30. In itsnormal position, member 31 places spring 30 under tension to draw fin--ger 30 toward the spindle axis.to enter a notch 28-but under rotativemovement of the spindle, faceSl contacts with a wall 30 sion isoperative in either direction. of roof the opening of portion 30shifting member 30 to carry its finger'out of the notch.

There is direct co-operation between the tension means and the controlmechanism as will beunderstood from the following In normal position ofthe partswhether the circuit be open or closedfinge'r .30 is inengagement with one of the notches 28*, thus locking the rotor againstmovement; at thls time the tension means is-subst-antially free fromtension, excepting such as may be provided by friction of contactingparts When it is desired to snap the switch, the

handle is -moved; rotatively, thus' beginning rotation of spindle 18.Since however, there 'is' no positive connection betweenthe spindle androtor, andthe latter is held from rotative movementcby' engagement offinger 30 with a notch 28, this movement of the spindle-becomeseffective to place tensionion the spring by reason of the. contact ofarm 26 with one end of spring while the opposite end of the spring is.held by finger 27the action being similarregardless ofthe direction ofrotation ofthe spindle. At, the same time movement oft-the spindleshifts the -po-" sition of member .31 'in a direction tocause its face31 to contact wallthereby forcing a change in positioirof member 30 in adirection to take finger 30 from notch'28.

When movement of member 30 has been sufficient' to release finger 30 atwhich time the spring tension has. assumed considerable value-thistension is made-efiective on the,

rotor through finger 27 to cause the rotor to advance-in a correspondingdirection, moving the rotorand finger 30 ''an angular distance tocarryfinger 30 out of position to return to the notch which it has left.

As will be readily understood, this angular movement of member 30 notonly changes '30 and tends to return member 30 to its .normal position.vThis complete movement is prevented, however, by contact of finger 7 30with the periphery ofmember 29 so that the lock control is heldinactiveto permit sprin'g'25 to continue its action on-the rotor, this lattercontinuing until finger "30" comes opposite the succeeding notch28atwhich time the normal relation offace 31 and spring 30 has been restoredand finger 30 passes into engagement with its notch, locking the'pa-rtsin normal position.

Obviously, handle 24 need be moved only an angular distance equal tothat desired of the rotor, and the casing may carry the usualindications to regulate thislength of movevment.

As willbe understood, the arrangement by which the rotor is placed undertentation of the'spindle arm 26'beingmade operative on one end or-theother of spring 25 while finger-27 holds the'opposite end .of the springfrom movement until the rotor is itself; free to move through the actionof the control mechanism, this latter taking place through the action'of face 31 and member 30, the'particular time when finger 3O isactually released from its notch 28 being determined by the relativeconfigurations of members 30 and 31. -And'si1icdthe movement 'of therotor underthea'ction of' the tension automatically tends to placespring 30 under tension by reason of its contact with face 31 it/willbe. understood that finger 3O will not'onlyenter the succeeding notch 28with certainty but finger 30 will tend to' ride infrictional-engagementwith the edge of plate. 2 8'and may thus tend to restrict spee'dand'ensure that overrunning of the rotor will'beprevented, especiallysince the movementis' also re sisted by the entrance of the contactblades into thecli As will i? form separate tension means, spring 25being normally at its minimum tension value 'while spring 30 is normallyat an intermediate value. This relation is temporarily changed duringthe operation of the switch,

spring 25 reaching its maximum ,tension value as-fi lgfi r 30 is aboutto be released, at which time spring 30 is substantially at its minimumvalue. Rotor movement then causes the tension value of spring 25 to .de-

crease to its minimum, while the tension cated external of the rotorbecomes ad 'vantageous in that it permits the moulding of the rotor tobe had-about the bushing in which the'spindle itself is guided, greatlysimplifying the general arrangement and renderingit less likely to bedisarranged in use.- And as all rotor-carried parts are practicallyembedded in the insulating material :which forms the body portion oftherotor, the parts are held firmly and may be of configurations of astrong and substantial character, ensuring serviceable conditions evenunder heavy; service.

While I have herein shown and. described a preferred form of'structure,itwill be readily understood that changes or modifications therein maybe found desirable or s. a 4 00 e understood springs 25 and 30 Iessential to meet the exigencies of use, and

I desire to beunderstood asreserving the right .to make any and allsuchchanges or modifications therein as may be found desirable ornecessary in so far as the same may fall within the spirit and scope ofthe invention as expressed in the accompanying claims when broadlyconstrued.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new, is

1. A snap switch comprising an insulating base, a substantiallybarrel-shaped rotor of insulating material, a stem passing freelythrough the rotor and having a bearing in the base and provided with ahandle,

' fixed contacts carried by the base and cooperating contacts carried bythe rotor,- a fixed latch plate having notches and concentric portionsbetween the notches, a latch .connected to rotate with the rotor andguided for lateral movement in respect to ,20.

the rotor and latch plate and having a tooth to engage the latch nothes, a cam carried by the stem and engaging acam opening in the latch, aspring on the rotatable latch arranged to engage the cam and yieldinglyurge the rotatable latch member to notch engaging position, aspring-mechanism at the other end of the rotor fromthe latch mechanismproviding means for. urging the rotor to move in either direction inaccordrotor in any one of a plurality of fixed positions by engagementwith said latch, a re silient member connected to the latch, means fornormally maintaining the resilient member in position to force the latchinto engagement with any one of said members, shiftable upon rotation ofsaid'spindle to release the pressure of said resilient member upon thelatch and shiftthe latch outv of engagement with said members, ermittingrotation of the rotor through said pressure.

3. In a snap sw-itch,a rotor, meanscontrolled by the position of therotor for making and breaking acircuit, and means for shifting saidrotor from one predetermined position to another to make or break thecircuit, including manually operable means for exerting rotativepressure upon the rotor, a latch engaging the rotor, fixed meansengaging the latch to maintain the rotor in fixed position, and meansfor normally maintaining said latch in engagement with said fixed meansby resilient pressure, adapted to release said resilient pressure andforce the latch out of engagement with the fixed means upon manipulationof the manually operable means to permit revolution of the rotor.

4. In a snap switch, a rotor, means controlled by the position of therotorfor making and breaking a circuit, and means for shifting saidrotor from one predetermined position to another to make or break thecircuit, including a spindle, a resilient connection between the spindleand rotor to impel the rotor rotatively, latch means for holding therotor in fixed position against the action of said resilient connectionwhen the spindle is rotated, resilient means for maintaining said latchin active position, and means operative upon rotation of the spindle torelease said resilient means, shift the latch into inoperative positionand permit the rotation of the rotor to restore the normal relationbetween spindle and rotor, in which the resilient means is again activeto force said latch into operative position and hold the rotor in fixedposition.

5. Ina snap switch, a rotor, means con-v trolled by the position of therotor for makand breaking-a circuit, and means for shifting said rotorfrom one predetermined position to another to make or break the circuit,including a spindle coaxial with the rotor, a spring connecting thespindle;

and rotor tending to impel the rotor rotatively, a latch slidablymounted on the rotor, a plurality of fixed latch engaging members,resilient means for holding said latch in engagement with one of saidfixed members, and latch controlling means connected to said spindle fornormally holding said resilient means in active position adapted uponrotation of the spindle to release said resilient means and shift thelatch into operative position, permitting the rotation of the rotorthrough the action of said spring to restore its normal relation withthe spindle in which'the resilient means is operative to engage thelatch with another fixed member.

6. In a snap switch, a rotor, means controlled by the position of therotor for making and breaking a circuit, and means for shifting saidrotor from one predetermined position to another to make or break thecircuit, inpluding a spindle coaxial with the rotor, a spring connectingthe spindle and rotor tending to move the rotor rotatively, a latchslidably mounted on the rotor, a fixed member having a peripheryconcentrio with the axis of the rotor and provided with a plurality ofspaced latch engaging elements on said periphery, resilient means fornormally maintaining said latch in engagement with one of the elements,actuating means connected to the spindle. for

releasing said resilient means and the latch upon rotation of thespindle to permit revolution of the rotor into normal relation with thespindle, said actuating means be ing operative to renew the pressure ofthe spring against the latch as the rotor approaches normal position inrelation to the spindle, so as to force the latch into increasinglyforcible frictional engagement with {)he concentric periphery of saidfixed memer. I

7. In a snap switch, a rotor, means controlled by the position of therotor for making and breaking a circuit, and means for shifting saidrotor from one predetermined position to another to make or break thecircuit, including a spindle coaxial with the rotor, a springresiliently connecting the spindle and rotor tending to producehomologous rotation, a latch slidably mounted on the rotor, a fixedelement having a plurality of spaced latch members, a second .sprlng, acam element mounted on the spinpermit the revolution of the rotor intonormal engagement with the spindle, said revolutionrestoring the normalengagement between the cam member and the second spring to resilientlyforce the latch into operative position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH STANSBURY JONES.

